SACK THE SILKS

BREXIT BILL ON THE WAY

Government 'already drafting' Brexit bill as minister hints they may try and fast-track it

As part of a new “strategic dialogue” on home affairs issues, the UK “will consider further improvements to our visa offer if at the same time we can step up the speed and volume of returns of Indians with no right to remain in the UK”, said Mrs May.

“And the UK will continue to welcome the brightest and best Indian students, with the latest figures showing that nine out of 10 applications are granted.”

They have agreed to work together on measures to tackle the use of the internet for radicalisation and recruitment attempts by extremists

PM Theresa May in India hoping to boost trade ties ahead of divorce from the EU

UK officials were delighted that Mr Modi granted Mrs May an unusually lengthy 90-minute one-on-one private discussion in talks which formed the centrepiece of her three-day trade mission to the country.

Mrs May and Mr Modi also agreed to co-operate on a new cyber security framework, as well as tackling the use of the internet for radicalisation and recruitment attempts by violent extremists.

Speaking alongside Mrs May at a tech sector summit ahead of their working lunch, Mr Modi made clear his concern about visa changes which have almost halved numbers of Indian students at UK universities over the past five years.

"Education is vital for our students and will define our engagement in a shared future," he said.

"We must therefore encourage greater mobility and participation of young people in education and research opportunities."